Policy Officer

• Conduct research and analysis on the relevant policy area.
• Use evidence and data to present arguments and recommendations for policy interventions
• Develop materials or products that explain the policy
• Manage and respond to formal and informal information requests
• Manage projects within agreed timescales and budget.
• Track, monitor and report on the progress of a policy

To become a Policy Officer, you do not usually need a specific university degree, but many employers look for qualifications in Politics, Public Policy, Sociology, Eocnomics, or a related subject. There are many ways to access university level education, and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below. 

You might: 

• Study A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels – useful subjects might include Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Economics, English, or Business Studies. Explore some current opportunities below. 
• Complete an Access to Higher Education course – a college course designed for adults who want to access higher education but don’t have the traditional requirements like A Levels. 
• Complete a Foundation course – a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying at degree level if you do not have the required qualifications or grades to go straight into undergraduate study.  
• Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in research, community engagement, public services or project work and think about developing your writing, communication, analytical and problem-solving skills. 

You will then be ready to study at a university level. This can include: 

• Studying an undergraduate degree in Public Policy or Politics (BA), Sociology (BA/BSc), Economics (BSc), Law (LLB), or another relevant subject. 
• Completing a Graduate Scheme – if you already have a university degree, you may be able to join a graduate programme in the public sector, NHS, local government or another large organisation, gaining work experience while developing your policy, research and leadership skills. 

You could also become a Policy Officer without a university degree. For example, you could: 

• Apply directly to a junior or entry level policy role, gaining relevant experience before becoming a Policy Officer. 
• Moving from another role – roles such as administration or other business support functions, or project management translate well into becoming a policy officer. The key transferable skills employers will be looking for are written and verbal communication, data interpretation and analysis, research, organisation, and stakeholder engagement. Are there any you might need to work on?